Mowing machine



MY 20; 1941*. F. P MARTIN MOWING MACHINE s sheetssheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 19.38

i NVENTOR Fe/.O

ATTORN'EY May 20, 1941. F. P. MARTIN MowING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1938' INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 2'0, 194'1. F. P. MARTIN 2,242,917

MOWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q I G Y Qa N INVENTOR @i /Be f fm, ai 'i' E my] Q n r ATTORNEY Patente-d May 20, 1941 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MowING MACHINE Fred P. Martin, Topeka, Kans.

Application october s, 193s, serial No. 233,007 f v. 12 claims.

This invention relates to mowing machines of cut over.

In machines of this character, it has been the practice to drive the sickle actuating crank with a telescoping shaft having universal connections with the power and sickle crank shafts to com# pensate for the varying positions of the crank shaft with respectl to the power shaft incidental to adjustment ofthe sickle.

Such construction is expensive, difficult to lubricate, wears rapidly, produces vibration and back lash, and requires considerable power to operate. Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and less expensive-driving connection which is readily lubricated, free of lvibration, and requires less power to operate.

Other objects of the invention are to provide direct power take-oif from the motor unit of the machine; to provide for mounting of the power shaft concentrically with the pivotal axis of the sickle shoe; to provide mounting of the crank shaft inthe pivotal axis of the sickle; and to maintain xed radial relationship between the power and sickle crank shafts.

It is also an object of the invention to proing and thedriving connection between the power` and sickle crank shafts.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the parts of the belt housing, shown in disassembled spaced relation.`

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary' side elevational view of a portion of the machine particularly illustrating the ball and socket connection of the sickle shoe carrying yoke with the chassis frame.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

, I designates a mowing machine including a chassis 2 having forwardly converging side sills 3 and 4 connected by cross members 5 to mount a motor. units thereon.v Also mounted on the sills to the rear 'of the motor unit is a platform 1 carrying an operators seat 8.

The -front end of the frame is carried upon anaxle 9 having steering knuckles I0 mounting wheels Il, the knuckles I0 being connected through suitable mechanism with a steering .wheel I2. that is supported on a post I3 in front of the operators seat 8, as in conventional automotive design. The rear of the frame is carried upon a conventional axis I4 having wheels l5 that are driven from the motor unit 6 through a vari- `able speed transmission IB wherebyvthemachine is adapted to be operated in the manner-of an ordinary motor vehicle. Y

Located at one side of the platform intermediate the front and rear wheels II and I5' is a sickle unit I1 including a sickle bar I8 attached vide means for tilting the sickle in a fore and aft direction. v

In accomplishing these and other objects of4 the present in* ention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a power driven mowing machine embodying the features of the pres-v ent invention, the outer. end of the sickle being broken away, and a part of the drive belt housing shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the front of the machine, particularly illustrating the power take-off for actuating the sickle.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bearing supporting bracket for the idler pulley of the power take-off.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the power take-off on the line 4 4, Fig.

-2,"illustrating connection of the power take-off with the motor shaft and the clutch mechanism. Fig. 5.is a fragmentary perspective view of the side of the machine showing the sickle mountthe bracket. rl'he at its inner end to a shoe I8 swingingly supported by a yoke 20 from the chassis frame. The yoke 20 includes a plate 2l to which is connected outwardly diverging arms 22 vand 23 terminating in ball sockets 24 and 25 which cooperate with caps 26 and 21 to engage balls 28 and 28 carried on the chassis, whereby the shoe is adapted for swinging movement in a vertical direction to raise and lower the heel of the sickle. The ball 28 is anchored by a threaded shank 30 extending through an opening 3l in a bracket plate 32 xed to and depending below the side sill 3, as best shown inFigs. 1, 5 and 7, the shank 38 being retained by a thereon to ldraw a collar 34 of the ball against ball 29 is flxed to a similar bracket 35 attached tothe side sill forwardly of the ball 28. 'Ihe ball 29 is preferably welded directly to the bracket and provided with an axial opening 36 to pass a power shaft, as later described. The arms 22 and 23 of the yoke are preferably braced by a plate 31 having its ends welded to the arms and one edge thereof to th plate 2|. 4

nut 33 that is threadedv 'Ihe shoe |9 carries spaced bearings 38 and 39-at the rear of the sickle and an axially aligned yoke 40 in front of the sickle to form hinging elements cooperating with bearings 4| and 42 carried on a plate 43. The bearing 4| engages between the bearings 38 and 39 and has a laterally extending neck 44 xed to the plate 43 and vthe bearing 42 is carried on an arm 45 attached to a flange 46 of the plate. The plate 43 is` adjusted on the plate 2| by a pivot member such as a bolt 41 extending through the respective plates at a point substantially in alignment with the rear edge of the sickle bar I8. vThe opposite end of the plate 43 is adjustably clamped to the plate 2| by clamping bolts 48 extending through slotted openings in the plate 44 and through "registering apertures in the plate 2 I. l

Extending through the bearing elements 38 and 39 and journalled within the bearing 4| is a crank shaft 50 plvotally connecting the sickle shoe. The bearing 42 is connected with the yoke 40 by a pivot member, such as a bolt 5|.

'I'he shoe is thus supported for pivotal move- .ment about the axis of the crank shaft so that the cutting angle of the sickle may be adjusted through a range varying from a downward perpendicular position to an upper position with the toe of the sickle extending over the chassis frame.

In order to tilt the sickle in a fore and `aft direction on lthe pivot 41, the upper edge of the plate 43 carries a lateral tongue 52 having a set screw 53 engaging the edge of the plate 2|, It

.'is thus apparent that by loosening the clamping bolts 48 and adjusting the set screw 53, the plate 43 may be'moved on the pivot member 41 to change the attack angle of the sickle with respect to the horizontal.

The cutter bar of the sickle is connected'by a pitman 54 with a wrist pin 55 eccentrically mounted.on a head 56 of the crank shaft 50. The rear end of the crank shaft 50 projects from A`the bearing 38 and mounts a driven pulley 59 which is actuated from a driving pulley 60 through a plurality of belts 6| opera-ting in grooves of the respective pulleys.

The pulleys including the belts are enclosed by a housing 62 including upper and lower sec'- tions 63 and 64 which are secured in assembled position\to a bracket 65 carried on the arm 22;

The driving pulley 60 is xed on a power shaft 66 extending through the opening 36 of the ball 29 and is rotatably retained within the pivotal axis of the yoke supporting arms by self-aligning bearings 61 and 68, the bearing 61 being attached to the underside of the chassis frame adjacent the ball and socket connection of the arm 22 and the bearing 68 is secured to the end of Ithecrossgmember 69 which connects the ends of the side sills 3 and 4 as shown in Figs. 1 and '1.

The cross member 69 is shown as comprising an angle having a vertical f :mge welded to the ends of the side sills and a horizontal flange 1| projecting forwardly to mount the power take-off whereby the sickle is. operated from the motor unit, as now to be described.

The power take-off is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, wherein 12 designates the forward end of the crank shaft of the motor unit which ordinarily mounts the fan belt pulley 13 and forms a connection for a starting crank. In the present instance, the projecting end of the crank shaft mounts a tubular extension 14 that is sleeved thereover and drivingly connected therelwith by a key 15, the tubular extension being in the pulley |05 and over end journalled in a self-aligning anti-friction' bearing attached to the underside of the flange 1| as best shown in Fig. 4. Fixed to the shaft 84 within the clutch housing 80 is a clutch plate carrier 86 having plates 81 engaging a complementary plate 88 carried by the clutch housing. The plates 81 are moved into driving relation with the plate 88 by fingers 89 that are pivoted on a collar 90 threaded on the plate carrier, Slidably mounted on the shaft 84 is a collar 9| which is connected by links 92 with arms 93 of the clutch ngers 89. 'Ihe collar 9| is operated by 'a"shipper 94 which is fixed to a cross shaft 95 supported in bearings 96 and 91 carried on the vertical flange 10, as best `shown in Fig. 2.

'I'he shipper 94 has depending arms 98 provided wth slotted ends 99 engaging rollers |00 carried on a ring 0| supported within a groove of the clutch collar 9|, as in conventional clutch construction. v

The endof the shaft 95 adjacent the drivers side of the machine carries a lever arm |02 that connects by a rod |03 with a shifting lever |04 pivotallyI supported -on the steering wheel post,

as shown in Fig, 1, so that the shafts may be selectively engaged or disengaged by the operator to connect the shaft 84 in driving rela-tion 'with the crank shaft of the motor.` The shaft 84 has a reduced extension projecting beyond the bearing 85 and mounts a pulley 05 which is secured thereto by keys |06 and a set screw |01. Fixed to the forward end of the power shaft 66 in alignment with the pulley |05 is a pulley |08.

The end of the flange 1| opposite that supporting the bearing 68 is cut away and bent downwardly as at |09 to mount a bearing supporting bracket ||0 thatcooperateswith a similar bracket welded to the inner side of the vertical flange 10, as best shown in Fig. 3.

'I'he brackets are provided with slotted openings ||2 and 3 to attach bearings 4 and |l5 which journal an idler pulley shaft ||6. The bearings 4 and 5 have flanges ||1 that are clampingly retained against the brackets by fastening devices, such as bolts ||8y extending through the anges and through the slots ||2 and 3 of the brackets.

The bearings are shifted on the brackets by set screws |20 having their shanks threaded through laterally extending ears |2| at the lower ends of the brackets and bearing against the lower flanges ||1 of the bearings, as best shown in Figs. 2and3.

Keyed to the outer end of the shaft ||6 in registering alignment with the pulleys |05 and |08 is an idler pulley |22. Operating in grooves the idler pulley |22 is a plurality of endless belts |23 having their yupper runs extending through grooves |24in the driving pulley |05 so that the belts are actuated thereby to effect rotation of the power shaft. The belts are tensioned to obtain desired driving contact with the pulleys by adjusting the idler wardly extending arm |28 that is connected with,

the sickle supporting yoke by a flexible connection, such as a chain |29.

The inner end of the shaft |26 has an oppositely extending arm |30 that connects with a balancing mechanism such as a spring |3 I.

The actuating lever |25 is retained in any sclected position by a pawl |32 engageable with the teeth of a rack |33 xed to the bracket |27,

the pawl being manipulated by a release buttont |34 carriedl by the handle of the lever.

In order to swing the sickle bar about its pivotal axis, as when adjusting angular position thereof, I provide an actuating mechanism including a shaft |35 which extends longitudinally of the chassis alongside the drivers seat and has its ends rotatably supported in bearing brackets |36 and |31.

Fixed on the forward end of the shaft |35 are grooved pulleys |38 and |39 of differential diameter. Carried by the bracket at the rear end of the shaft is a housing |40 for enclosing a worm and worm gear (not shown) actuated by a horizontally extending shaft |4| ,rotatably supported in a transverse extension of the housing. Fixed on the outer end of the shaft |4| is a hand wheel |42 having a rim |43 adapted to be engaged by a brake 44. I'he brake |44 is mounted on a rock shaft |45 carried on the platform in spaced bearings |46.

Fixed to the end of the rock shaft in convenient reach of the operator is a foot pedal |41 whereby the brake may be moved to and from braking relation with the rim of the wheel. Fixed effected by operation of the release button |34,

The entire sickle unit is 'now freeto be lowered upon release of the brake |44 and rotation of the hand wheel |42 to pay out the cable |48.

Upon release of the hand lever |25-and rotation of the hand Wheel, the sickle, sickle shoe, and its carrying yoke swing downwardly about the axis of the power shaft 84 on the ball and socket connections until the sickle has passed perpendicu-lar position, whereupon the sickle begins to swing downwardly towards horizontal position. The shoe of the sickle may be stopped at any selected position by reengaging the pawl of the lever |25 with the rack |33 and the angular position of the sickle may be maintained by releasing the hand wheel and allowing engagement of the brake in the same manner, as disclosed in the above entitled application.

When the sickle is in desired cutting position, the operator then effects engagement of the power take-ofi clutch 00 through actuation of the lever |04 so as to establish driving connection between`the tubular extension and the shaft 84. When driving connection is established',v the pulley |05 drives the @belts |23 to effect rotation of the power shaft; the power shaft in turn rotating they crank shaft through the pulleys 5.9 and v6,0, and the belts 6| to eect reciprocation of the cutter bar. Owing to the fact that the sickle carrying shoe is suspendingly supported for swinging movement about the axis relatively to the axis of the power shaft, the shoe may be raised and lowered through the lever |25 at the will ofthe operator without affecting tension of the driving belts.

l positive driving connection entirely free of `vibrawithin the groove of the larger pulley |39 is the end of a cable |48 having its opposite end extending over and -anchored to an arcuate arm |49 fixed to the sickle shoe so that when the pulley |39 is rotated to wind the cable thereon,

`the sickle is raised from a lower to an upper claimed in my (zo-pending application on "Mowing machine, Serial No. 199,474, filed on or about April 1, 1938, which has matured into Patent No. 2,137,981 of January 23, 1940.

In operating the machine constructed and assembled as described, and assuming that the sickle is supported in carrying position with the toe thereof slightly inclining over the chassis, the motor is started to propel the machine. The power take-off clutch will, of course, be disengaged so that the sickle is idle.

Upon reaching the place ofoperation, the lever |25 is released by disengagement of the pawl |32 thereon with the rack |33. This is tion and back lash, and that the driving mechanism operates with a minimum power loss.

WhatA I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a mowing machine chassis having front and rear wheels, a power shaft, a. sickle shoe, arms connected with the sickle shoe, ball and socket joints located in axial alignment with the power shaft and between said front and rear wheels for flexibly connecting the arms with the chassis in the axis of the power shaft, a. sickle operating shaft on the shoe, and a driving connection between said shafts.

2. In a mowing machine chassis, a sickle shoe, arms connected with the sickle shoe, ball and socket joints connecting the arms with the chassis. one of said joints having an axial opening extending therethrough, a power shaft extending loosely through said opening, a sickle operating shaft on the shoe, pulleys on the respective shafts, and belts operating over the pulleys.

3. In a mowing machine, a chassis, arms pivotally connected with the chassis, a plate connecting the arms, a sickle unit including a shoe supporting plate having pivotal support on the connecting plate, a screw on one of the plates and engageable with the other to effect movement of the shoe supporting plate on the connecting plate, and means selectively clamping the plates together.

4. In a mowing machine, a motor unit having a crank-shaft projecting from the front of the motor unit, a tubular extension connected with the front end of the crank shaft, anti-friction bearings in the tubular extension, an aligning shaft having a pilot rotatably mounted in said i power shaft and the sickle unit.

bearings, a. clutch connecting the tubular extension with the aligning shaft, .a power shaft extending rearwardly alongside the motor unit, pulleys on the respective shafts, belts operating over the pulleys to drive the power shaft upon engagement of the clutch, a sickle unit, means pivotally supporting the sickile unit on the side of the machine nearest the power shaft, and a vdriving connection between the power shaft and the sickle Y unit.

5. In a mowing machine, a motor unit at the front ofthe machine having a crank shaft, a tubular extension connected with the front end of the crank shaft, anti-friction bearings in the tubular extension, an aligning -shaft having a pilot rotatably mounted in said bearings, a clutch connecting the tubular extension with the aligning shaft, a power shaft extending rearwardly alongside the motor unit, pulleys on said power and aligning shafts, and belts operating over the .y pulleys to drive the power shaft upon engagement of the clutch. l

6. A mowing machine including a chassis havi ing front and rear wheelsja motor on the chassis having a crank shaft arranged in a fore and aft direction with respect to the chassis, a sickleunit pivotally supported from the side of the chassis between the front and rear wheelaaA selective speed driving connection between.- the rear end of the crank shaft and the rear wheels to propel the machine, a shaft extending alongside the motor concentrically of the pivotal support of the sickle unit, a driving connection between the front ends of the shaft and crank shaft, and a lsickle driving mechanism connecting the sickle ing connection between the rear end of the crank shaft and the rear wheels to propel the machine, a power shaft extending alongside of the motor in substantially parallel relation with the crank shaft, a driving connection between the front end of the crank shaft and the power shaft, and a driving connection between the rear end of th 8. In a power driven self-propelled mower, a four-'wheeled frame, a power shaft, means rotatably supporting the power shaft on the frame substantially parallel with the fore and aft axis thereof, a'sickle carrying frame, ball and socket joints connected with the wheeled frame intermediate the front and rear wheels thereof and arranged to operate about the axis of the power shaft, a sickle shoe, means pivotally connecting the sickle shoe with the sickle carrying frame to oscillate about an axisrparallel with the'axis of the power shaft, a crank shaft, means rotatably supporting the crank shaft coaxial-ly with the last vnamed axis, a driving connection between said 9. In a power driven self-propelled mower, a-- chassis frame, front and rear wheels supporting;

`afnam? said frame, a powerfshaft rotatably supported by the chassis frame, a ball-like trunnion fixed.' to

the chassis frame adjacent the front wheel and having a bore passing said power shaft, a balllike trunnion spaced from the end of the power shaft and' aligning withthe first named; trunnion, a sickle carrying frame including arms having sockets engaging said ball-like trunnions, a crank shaft rotatably supported on the sickle carrying frame, a sickle she oscillatably mounted about the axis of the crankshaft, a driving member fixed to the end pf the power shaft adjacent said last named trunnion, a driven member xed to the crank shaft, fiexible connecting means operating over said members, means carried by the chassis frame for' raising and lowering the sickle carrying frame, and separate means for pivoting the sickle shoe o-n the sickle carrying 10. In a mower of the character described, a chassis, a motor on the chassis having a crank shaft extending in a fore and aft direction to the chassis, a power shaft rotatably supportedby the chassis alongside the motor in substantially parallel relation with the motor crank shaft, a fiexible driving connection between the forward end of the power shaft and the motor crank shaft, a sickle carrying frame, ball and socket `joints pivotally connecting the sickle carrying frame for pivotal movement about the'opposite end.' of the powershaft, a crank shaft mounted onthevsickle. carrying frame, a sickle having operative connection with the crank shaft on the sickle carrying frame, and a fiexible driving connection between the power shaft and said crank shaft on the sickle carrying frame. l

l11. In a mower of the character described, a f chassis, a motor on the chassis having a crank shaft extending in a fore and aft direction to the chassis, a power shaft rotatably supported by the chassis in substantially parallel relation with the motor crank shaft, a fiexible driving connection between the forward end of said power shaft and the motor crank shaft, a sickle carrying frame, means pivotally connecting the lsickle carrying frame for pivotal movement about the opposite end of the power shaft, a crank shaft mounted on the sickle carrying frame and having parallel relation with the power shaft, a sickle having operative connection with the crank shaft 0n the sickle carrying frame, and a iiexible driving connection between the power shaft and said crank shaft on the sickle carrying frame.

12. In a power driven self-propelled mower, a chassis frame, front and rear wheels Vsupporting said frame, a motor unit carried at the vfront end' of the frame, a power shaft rotatably supported on the chassis frame and extending in parallel relation with the motor unit on one side of said frame, a flexible driving connection between the front of the power shaft and the motor unit, a

ball-like trunnion fixed to the chassis frame adjacent the front wheel and having a bore passing said shaft, a ball-like trunnion spaced from the vend of the power shaft and-aligning with the first named trunnion, a sickle carrying frame including sockets'engaging said ball-like trunnions, a

jsickle carried by the sickle carrying frame, and a driving 'connection between the power shaft and the sickle.

' FRED P. MARTIN. 

